We've Got Friends in Cold Places!

Top photo is Sue's patio in New Mexico and lower photo is Pam's backyard in Oklahoma, both beautifully covered in snow. I wonder how much their heating bill is...ours is higher than I ever imagined this year!

The Wolf Moon

Thank you Vitit Kantabutra from Pocatello, ID for sharing the incredible shot (above) of our January 2010 "Wolf Moon" Full Moon.
Below is a shot of the Wolf Moon West Sacramento. By the time I had got my camera setup with lens, tripod, and checked the manual settings...the moon was sinking fast. I kind of liked this shot of the moon behind our neighbors tree.

The Wolf Moon is a full moon that occurs in January. The name comes from hungry wolf packs that would howl outside the villages of Native Americans. This full moon is also known as the Old Moon or the Moon After Yule.

The Spirit of Sacramento is Still Sinking

This photo was sent to us by Charlie Gordon who said "I enjoy your photo blog and wanted to share this sad photo with you. This boat has been in disrepair for years, sitting just south of Linden on the river road. Maybe it was the last storm that sunk it. What a shame."

See previous photos posted on this blog in November of 2007.

Hot & Sour and Tsingtao

Nothing better than a bowl of East Side Chef's Hot and Sour Soup with a bottle of Tsingtao Beer. We normally do the take-out option, but since we are now on "retirement time" we can take time to sit down and enjoy being waited on by Grace.

A Break in the storm coming soon

Thank you Florene for sharing this beautiful photo of a rainbow during a break in the storm last week. Hopefully we'll be seeing some sun on Wednesday!

SOS..Lost Cat near Jefferson & Higgins

Missing on Jan 14th Tuxedo/Tuxy with collar and his ID. He weighs 20lbs-Big loves to eat. He may be locked up by accident please look in your garage etc. Lives on Jefferson Blvd, between Higgins and Blacker Rd. REWARD! 371-1448. Please bring him home he is friendly and loved & missed so much.

West Capitol Avenue After Dark

These great shots of West Capitol Avenue after dark were shot by David Kamminga.

Pre-School Field Trip to Art Beast

Art Beast is an open studio space for children to paint, play, glue, explore...you name it! Located at 2226 K Street in Sacramento. The kids from our preschool had a great time on a recent field trip!

Patiently Waiting

This young lady was the picture of patience as she sat waiting for her master to finish his coffee at LaBou. Luckily it was such a beautiful day she didn't seem to object waiting in the flower bed outside!

New Chipotle at Ikea Court--officially open today!

We were the first customers at the new Chipotle last night for their soft opening and all the proceeds from the evening went to children's charities. We ate the soft and crispy tacos and gave a thumbs up for tastiness and for staff friendliness!

White Caps & Waves on the Sacramento River

Thank you Joan Barber for sending these weather pix..."This morning when I was driving on the River Road, I took these shots from Stan's Yolo Marina. The Sacramento River looked more like the ocean today with waves and white caps."

The Beautiful Memorial Auditorium

Thank you David Kamminga for sharing the great shots of the Memorial Auditorium. The auditorium was constructed in 1926 and was originally dedicated to solders who died during WWI. Grampa Frank's brother Almer Norton's name is etched on one of the original Memorial stones.
Trivia: The Beach Boys Live In Sacramento, 1964 Second Show! album was recorded on location at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, California on August 1, 1964. We saw the Broadway Production of Hair at the Auditorium in the early 70's.

Too much rain...not enough drain!

The underpass leading to West Capitol Avenue from the Raley Field was flooded on Monday morning......Being a tree city is wonderful but the drawback means leaves piling up and blocking the drains in our city's low points.

Black Belt Testing at Southport ATA

Mr. Lal (upper) tested for his second degree black belt Saturday at Southport ATA (American Taekwondo Association). His amazing spin kick wowed the crowd. He broke the board on his first try. ( Lower) Mr. Chandler Smith, preparing for his kick, also earned his second degree black belt.
Trivia: The word Taekwondo itself is made up of three Chinese/Korean words: Tae, meaning to kick or jump; Kwon, meaning fist or hand; and Do, which means "the way." Loosely (if not literally), it can be thought of as "The Way of the Hand and Foot."

West Capitol Avenue Update

The West Capitol Avenue Streetscape Project is getting close to completion. We love the new wide sidewalks and street lighting. Trees and landscaping will come soon.

Coca Cola Cupcake and a Murphy Stout

Christy and I enjoyed this exotic combination when we were on the inaugural voyage of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. I highly recommend trying a Murphy Stout and a Coca Cola Cupcake with Buttercream Frosting. A sidenote: the pastry chef and manager of the Cupcake Cupboard was trained at the CIA in Napa...

Matt Scott, River City Raiders Basketball

Thank you De'Onna Johnson Jack for sending her "High School Sports Illustrated" photo of the week of Matt Scott, a Junior on the River City Raiders, during his hoop shot at the game on Tuesday Jan 12, 2010.

Sacramento City College-New West Sacramento Center

We went to the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Sacramento City College West Sacramento Campus and came away so impressed and proud for the citizens of our city! It is interesting to compare the top photo of the completed project with DLR Group's Architectural Rendering below.


We were intrigued by the huge special event scissors that were used to cut the ribbon hung at the entrance of the Center.

Darling Debbie

Carolyn says "When I was very small, my father gave me a "Darling Debbie" doll for Christmas. She is long gone, but today, I nearly cried when my friend brought over this "Darling Debbie, dressed just like the one I played with so many years ago. Still in the box, she is only missing the pearl earrings, necklace and bracelet. My friend hated the doll, and never played with her, so "Little Debbie" is in better shape than I, after all these years."

Neptune Crew "Best in Class" for Sacramento Lighted Boat Parade

Congratulations to The Sea Scout Ship Neptune Crew who were awarded "Best in Class" in last months Lighted Boat Parade hosted by the Sacramento Marina and the Capital City Yacht Club. The Trident won first place in the 30' and under class. Photo courtesy of the SSS Neptune Crew.

Disappearing Relic "Cigarette Machine"

Those coupons that Phillip Morris is sending out won't work in the vending machine thank you...This machine was in a pub in Siesta Key,Florida. In some countries like Germany and Japan cigarette machines are still common but it is pretty rare to find one in California.

Send me a coupon for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Please....

We received this mailer from Philip Morris this week, addressed to us, unsolicited. There was a phone number to call to opt out of receiving the mailer in the future and when we called to take our name off, they said the process will take 10-12 weeks! Interesting lure..especially since the $10.00 they offer barely dents one day of cig addiction...

Mourning Dove on his perch

Cathy Perrigo sends this photo of life in Baja..."our next door neighbor's ficus trees were over 30 ft tall before he chopped them down. This poor dove is wondering what the heck happened to his home. The humming birds also lost their home.."

Queen of the Winter Flowers

I love the stark contrast of the barren oak trees against the colorful camellias in full bloom in our West Sacramento neighborhoods. These photos were taken at my friend Barbara's house near Meadow Road. Unfortunately, the soil in my garden in Southport just doesn't have the right mix for Camellias to thrive..

The Japanese Camellia (C. japonica) is the state flower of Alabama as well as the city flower of Sacramento, California, Newberg, Oregon, Slidell, Louisiana.

Monument for Roy Deary, Jr at Nor Cal Beverage Headquarters

Roy G. Deary founded the Hires Bottling Company of Sacramento in 1937. Hires Bottling Company became Nor-Cal Beverage Co., Inc. in 1970 under the leadership of Roy's sons Don and Grant Deary. Nor-Cal Beverage now has 760 employees who produce and distribute more than 45 million cases of soft drinks and beer a year and is one of California’s Top 10 Independent Bottlers.

Mike--our great server at Eppies

We had breakfast at Eppies on West Capitol Avenue yesterday and I asked Mike if I could take a photo of his "flesh tunnel" ear piercings. Mike is not only a good sport but also a fantastic wait person. And......my Ortega and Cheese Omelet was pretty spectacular too!

Dia De Reyes--Day of Kings at Trinity Presbyterian

In Traditional Mexican Culture, on the night of January 5, the figurines of the Three Wise Men, "Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, are added to the nativity scene. Before going to bed the children place their old shoes under their bed or in the living room, where the Wise Men will leave them their presents.

A Californian's Christmas in Minnesota

Joan Barber sends these photos from icy Minnesota. Joan said "as a West Sacramento resident the first thing I thought this morning when they announced it was minus 17 degrees was ...."What the heck am I doing here?" :)

Back to California on Monday thank goodness!!

The Chase...following the route of tire tracks and destruction

11th and Park


West Acre Road 11th Street

Meadow Road and Longcroft Street

We followed the chase trail and took these photos showing the destruction and damage to property in the West More Oaks area that occurred during a high speed police chase in the early morning hours of December 30, 2009. See article on WestSacWeb for more info.